West Lake (西湖) was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2011 by UNESCO and is the only lake heritage site in China. The 6.4 km2 West Lake has a perimeter of around 15km and is actually very shallow, with an average depth of 1.5m. The deepest part of the lake is around 3m.
Walk by the Waters: West Lake (西湖) Huagang Park (花港公园), Hangzhou (杭州)China Read More »
Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society (西泠印社) is located on the largest island in West Lake (西湖) – Gushan (孤山). Gushan connects the lake shore by Xiling Bridge (西泠桥) and Bai Causeway (白堤) and is on the Hop-on-hop-off round-the-lake sightseeing car route. Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society site is actually a compact yet refined and elegant exquisitely landscaped garden on a 38m tall hill overlooking West Lake.
The 589km long Qiantang River (钱塘江) is the largest in Zhejiang (浙江) Province. Qiantang River actually refers to the downstream Hangzhou section of the river whereas the upstream section of the river is named Fuchun River (富春江). The famous “Qiantang River Big Wave” (钱塘江大潮) is a natural wonder of the world caused by the interactions of gravitational pulls of the seawater by the Sun and the Moon, the Earth’s rotation, and topography of the Qiantang River and Hangzhou Bay.
Walk by the Waters: Qiantang River (钱塘江), Hangzhou (杭州) China Read More »
The 6.4km2 West Lake has a perimeter of around 15km. West Lake is actually very shallow, with an average depth of 1.5m. The deepest part of the lake is around 3m.
West Lake is divided into sections by Su Causeway (苏堤) which runs in the north-south direction across the lake and Bai Causeway (白堤) in the northern part of the lake. The causeways, lined by trees and flowerbeds, 4 man-made islands on the lake, as well as the many pagodas, temples, pavilions, gardens, and bridges, make West Lake so uniquely scenic in different ways in different seasons and in different weather conditions.
Walk by the Waters: West Lake (西湖), Hangzhou (杭州) China Read More »
A short 25-minute drive north of Perth CBD, Hillarys foreshore is a beautiful coastal area where Hillarys Boat Harbour, Hillarys Marina, Hillarys Marina Lighthouse, Hillarys Marina Beach, Hillarys Yacht Club, and Western Australia’s only underwater aquarium – AQWA, are located.
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The 16-hectare Roma Street Parkland is located within a short walk from Brisbane city. Opened in 2001 after over 100,000 shrubs, 1200 mature trees, 1800 unique species of plants, and 250 ferns were planted, the Parkland is an inner-city green oasis built within a concrete jungle, an excellent getaway for people working in the Brisbane city.
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The costs of solar energy, both in terms of total installed costs and solar panel costs, have been coming down in the last 20 or so years. The dramatic price drop of solar energy has made solar energy the world’s cheapest source of power currently. It is no wonder that solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has increased almost 12 times from 72 gigawatts (GW) in 2011 to 843 GW in 2021.
The Cheap Solar Energy Could be Even Cheaper Read More »
ChatGPT is just one of the many generative AI tools. Many other tools can generate text, images, videos, music, graphics, and other creative content. In September 2023, OpenAI rolled out voice and image capabilities in ChatGPT. So, ChatGPT can now listen, talk, and see. This is a key development and a huge step change that could potentially lead to even more powerful generative AI tools.
Perth’s 400-hectare (4 km2) Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks. Opened in 1965, Kings Park has the best views of where the Swan and Canning Rivers meet and is visited by close to 6 million people every year. Two-thirds of Kings Park is natural bushland, and the rest of Kings Park is the Western Australian Botanic Garden, walking trails, lookouts, monuments, and open recreation areas.
Walk by the Waters: Lotterywest Federation Walkway, Kings Park Read More »
The Spit is the 5km long peninsula that stretches all the way up in the northward direction to the Gold Coast Seaway separating the Coral Sea from the Gold Coast Broadwater. The Spit is the gateway between Gold Coast Broadwater and the open ocean.
Mariner’s Cover Marina, Marina Mirage Shopping Mall, and Sea World Resort are located on the Gold Coast Broadwater side of The Spit. The ocean side of The Spit is relatively undeveloped compared to many other beautiful Gold Coast beaches.
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Townsville is a major service centre for northern Queensland and the main centre for government administration outside Brisbane. If you have 2 days in Townsville and you have a car to drive around, some tourist destinations in Townsville are free to visit. You just need to drive there. Even parking is free too.
2 Days of Visiting Free Attractions in Townsville Read More »
Lake Gwelup is a seasonal lake located within the Perth suburb of Gwelup, a 17-minute drive north of Perth CBD. The winter months are the best months to view Lake Gwelup when the lake water levels are at their highest levels.
Lake Gwelup Regional Open Space, which includes Lake Gwelup, is the open space, the natural bushland, and the walking trails around Lake Gwelup.
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Cliffs Park in the Brisbane suburb of Kangaroo Point is a unique park located by the bank of Brisbane River and right next to Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Kangaroo Point Cliffs comprise a 20m to 25m tall vertical rock face that extends most of the length of the Cliffs Park. The cliffs are the remains of 150 years of quarrying activities and are a heritage-listed site.
Walk by the Waters: Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, Brisbane Read More »
Is it possible to create “energy-positive” buildings? Is it possible to make buildings “generators of energy”? The answer is “Yes”. It is possible. In reality, there are already many “energy-positive” homes and buildings around the world.
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South Bank, a suburb located on the southern bank of Brisbane River and just south of Brisbane CBD, is Brisbane’s lifestyle and cultural precinct.
Here in South Bank, you will find the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
The Brisbane Sign and the Wheel of Brisbane are in South Bank too, along with many eateries, restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels.
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Within a walking distance north of Townsville city centre, the Strand is a 2.2 km beachfront promenade that features flat bike and walkway paths, swimming beaches, picturesque picnic spots, and lookout points, waterfront restaurants and cafes, and family-friendly parks and playgrounds. There are many tourist attractions on or close to the Strand including the 15-hectare Jezzine Barracks and Kissing Point Fort heritage precinct and the Strand Rockpool at the northwestern end, and the Strand Water Park, Breakwater Marina and Anzac Memorial Park at the southeastern end of the Strand.
Walk by the Waters: The Strand, Townsville Read More »
Located halfway between the tip of Cape York and Brisbane, Townsville is a coastal city in northeastern Queensland with a population of 234,283, according to the 2021 census.
Townsville is a major service centre for northern Queensland and the main centre for government administration outside Brisbane.
Walk by the Waters: Ross Creek, Townsville Read More »
Located only a short 20-minute drive northwest of Perth CBD, Roselea Boulevard Reserve is a small reserve surrounded by waterfront houses in the city of Stirling. This small reserve is located in a housing estate features a lake with a bridge and boardwalk and is surrounded by waterfront houses.
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The between Newcastle Foreshore and Nobbys Lighthouse starts at the waterfront walking path alongside Wharf Road next to the 11-hectare Newcastle Foreshore Park, a popular venue for many community events. Following the footpath in the northeast direction alongside Wharf Road towards Nobbys Lighthouse, you will walk past Nobbys Beach on the east side and Horseshoe Beach on the west side.
Walk by the Waters: Newcastle Foreshore, New South Wales Read More »
Surrounded by mountains on all sides, Lake Wakatipu is beautiful and distinctly different in the 4 seasons of the year.
A good way to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the lake and the surrounding mountains is to take a cruise on TSS Earnslaw, which is a 1912 vintage steamship, or the Spirit of Queenstown cruise ship.
Another way to enjoy the beautiful Lake Wakatipu is to walk by the shoreline near Queenstown town centre, which is small and very walkable. It is an awesome free thing to do in Queenstown.
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Kelvin Peninsula, located southeast of Queenstown town centre, extends into Wakatipu Lake. Kelvin Heights, located on the Kelvin Peninsula and is a 20-minute drive from the Queenstown town centre, is part of the Queenstown urban area. The section of Kelvin Peninsula Walk Trail around Queenstown Golf Club and near the Wakatipu Yacht Club at the tip of the peninsula offers the best lake and mountain views and popular picnic and swimming spots in the warmer months.
Walk by the Waters: Kelvin Peninsula, Queenstown New Zealand Read More »
Bily Lake, located just outside Optus Stadium and adjacent to the Swan River, is part of Chevron Parkland which also includes BHP Boardwalk and Amphitheatre, walking trails, cycling tracks, picnic and barbecue facilities, children’s playgrounds, and public art displays.
The 1 km round Bily Lake walk offers walking on relatively flat walking paths and BHP Boardwalk with many seating and picnic areas, and views of the Swan River, East Perth shoreline, and Perth CBD skyline.
Walk by the Waters: Bily Lake, Perth Optus Stadium Read More »
Just a stone-throw away from Wellington CBD, Wellington Waterfront is itself a tourist attraction. Wellington Museum, TSB Arena, Circa Theatre, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Max Patte’s “Solace in the Wind”, a bronze naked man sculpture, the “Wellington” Sign, and Waitangi Park are all located on Wellington Waterfront. Visitors can walk on walking paths, boardwalks, and pedestrian bridges from Wellington Museum to Freberg Beach on Oriental Bay, all times right next to the water away from vehicle traffic.
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Auckland Botanic Gardens is approximately 25km, or a 35-minute drive, southeast of Auckland city centre, in Auckland’s suburb of Manurewa. Auckland is located in the North Island of New Zealand. Here visitors will find more than 10,000 plants of which many are self-sustaining and require minimal intervention in Auckland’s mild South Pacific climate without pesticides.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has killed a total of more than 6.8 million people in 3 years, devastating many families. The pandemic has also caused trillions of economic damages globally.
Humanity needs to be better prepared for the next pandemic. The speed to respond to the next disease outbreak and pandemic is vital in reducing fatality and economic damage.
Is 2023 The Post-Pandemic Year? Read More »
The 0.82-square-km Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 1859. Although not huge by comparison with many others, Singapore Botanic Gardens is very compact, containing 3 water bodies, many walking paths, many themed gardens, and the very well-known and popular National Orchard Garden.
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Singapore River is a 3.2 km long river that feeds into the Marina Reservoir in the southern part of Singapore. Used to be an important hub of commerce, many warehouses by the banks of the river near the river mouth were built and were used to store spices and other produce. Today, some of these warehouses were restored and converted into entertainment and dining venues.
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Marina Barrage is a 350 m long dam built across Marina Channel to keep out seawater to form the Marina Reservoir.
As well, Marina Barrage enables flood control to reduce flooding in low-lying areas around the reservoir. During heavy rain and low tide, gates at the dam can be opened to release excess stormwater into the sea. During heavy rain and high tide, pumps at the dam can be operated to drain excess stormwater into the sea.
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The 5-square-km Sentosa Island, located just 15 minutes from Singapore CBD, is packed with many attractions and more attractions are being built to bring new and returned visitors to this island resort getaway. There are 2 golf courses, a deep-water yachting marina, resort hotels, sandy beaches, theme parks such as Universal Studios, Fort Siloso Skywalk, Bungy Jump Skybridge, and many more attractions, as well as many entertainment, dining, and shopping venues.
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The 10 km-long Kallang River is Singapore’s longest river. Kallang River starts at Lower Peirce Reservoir in the centre of Singapore, and flows through several housing and industrial estates such as Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Bendemeer, and Kallang Bahru, before meeting Geylang River at Kallang Basin and Singapore River at Marina Bay in the south of Singapore.
Walk by the Waters: Kallang River, Singapore Read More »